Tokens is a Canadian comedy web series created by Winnifred Jong and produced along with Trinni Franke. The series premiered on Facebook and YouTube on May 6, 2019. It also stayed on Binge Networks for the first season and was later sold to Urbanflix TV.
Tokens follows the lives of the actors of an "on call" casting agency who are dispatched to productions in order to fulfill diversity quotas. The series stars Connie Wang, Ryan Allen and Shelley Thompson. As of October 2019, Tokens has amassed more than 500,000 combined views across Facebook and YouTube.
Season 2 of Tokens was financed in 2020 but due to the outbreak of Covid, it was not able to go to camera until the fall of 2021. After filming and post were completed, it launched on The Roku Channel in January 2023.
Plot The series follows the actors of On Call Casting, a fictional agency designed to help busy production companies meet their mandated diversity quotas. Dispatcher Betty sends out whoever is on call, with the actors often finding themselves cast in the roles they least expect.
Cast and characters
Main
Connie Wang as Sammie Pang, an aspiring actress who joins On Call Casting in the hopes that she will find acting work beyond stereotypical token roles, despite the growing disapproval of her traditional parents. Ryan Allen as DeMar Lowry, a stunt coordinator-turned-actor who befriends Sammie after joining On Call Casting. Shelley Thompson as Betty, the eccentric, entrepreneurial dispatcher of On Call Casting.
Recurring
Jessica Greco as Jessica AD Daniel Maslany as Dennis AD Chelsea Clark as Roxy Krystal Kiran as Priya Christina Song as Vivian, Sammie's Mom Russell Yuen as Bob, Sammie's Dad Jonathan Cherry as Director #1 Sharron Matthews as Director #2 Amy Matysio as the Producer Ted Stokes as the Cinematographer Samora Smallwood as Jenn the Costumer Sedina Fiati as Ese the Makeup Artist Tyssen Smith as the College Brat
Guest
Fuad Ahmed (credited as Gabe Grey) as Vasant Andrew James McMichael as the Production Assistant Abigail Nadeau as the Bored Ballet Dancer Ehren Kassam as Kruger the Driver Ella Jonas Farlinger as Teen Betty Stephanie Morgenstern as the Casting Assistant Leigh Cameron as Captain Anjelika Sergey Volkov as Traktor Tom Melissis as Director #3 Julia Huang as Sammie's Niece Daniela Saioni as Director #4 Jeananne Goossen as Casting Director Voice
Episodes
Season 1 (2019)
Season 2 (2023)
Production The first season of Tokens was funded through the Telefilm Talent-To-Watch program and the Bell Fund. The series received additional funding through sponsorships from William F. White International and Grandé Camera (formerly Dazmo Camera).
Principal photography took place in November 2018 in Toronto.
In February 2019, Tokens creator Winnifred Jong and producer Trinni Franke participated in the Prime Time Throwdown pitch competition at the 2019 Prime Time in Ottawa conference, where they were awarded in-kind marketing services to support the release of the first season. The series premiered to a sold-out audience at the TIFF Bell Lightbox on May 6, 2019, the same day the first season was released worldwide on Facebook and YouTube.
Reception Tokens has received praise for its satirical depiction of the issues of tokenism and representation in the entertainment industry. Critics have noted the cultural relevance of the show's themes, with Greg David of TV, Eh? writing "Tokens couldn’t be more timely. Or scathingly on point." In a Calgary Herald review, Melissa Hank remarked that the series "tackles Hollywood diversity with grace and humour." Spring Marie Cullen of Starry Constellation Magazine wrote "it's smart, it's funny and it takes a unique look at the entertainment industry," concluding that "anyone who considers themselves a dreamer, no matter what career avenue they're headed down, will find enjoyment in this series." Writing for The TV Junkies, Bridget Liszewski described Tokens as "a funny, bold, tongue-in-cheek look at issues of diversity, inclusion, and representation."
As of July 2020, the first season of Tokens has been selected to screen at T.O. WebFest, Minnesota WebFest, NYC Web Fest, Bilbao Seriesland, NZ Web Fest, the Asia Web Awards, Santa Monica Webfest, Bogotá Web Fest, Apulia Web Fest, Miami Web Fest, Copenhagen Web Fest, New Jersey Web Fest, Santa Monica Webfest, DC Web Fest, Seoul Webfest, and Oakville Film Festival.
It boldly became the first short form series to be nominated as Best Ensemble at the 2020 ACTRA Awards, competing with Kim's Convenience, Baroness von Sketch, Anne with an E and the eventual winner, Schitt's Creek. It was nominated for four Canadian Screen Awards in 2020, where Winnifred Jong won for Best Direction, Web Program or Series.
Awards and nominations
Season 1+YearFestivalAward CategoryResult2019T.O. WebFestDiversity Story SpotlightMinnesota WebFestBest Comedy SeriesBest Representation of Communities of ColorNYC Web FestBest ComedyBest Supporting Actress (for Shelley Thompson)Bilbao SerieslandStarlet Amets (for Connie Wang)NZ Web FestBest Ensemble (International Narrative)Best Director (International Narrative)Asia Web AwardsBest Actress in a Comedy (for Connie Wang)Best Creator in a ComedyBest Director in a ComedyBest Editing (for Ben Lawrence & Gloria Tong)Best Ensemble Cast in a ComedyBest Screenplay in a ComedyBest Web Series2020ACTRA Toronto AwardsOutstanding Performance – Female (for Jessica Greco)Members' Choice Series EnsembleWomen's Comedy Film Festival in AtlantaBest Web SeriesCanadian Screen AwardsBest Writing, Web Program or Series (for Winnifred Jong)Best Direction, Web Program or Series (for Winnifred Jong)Best Lead Performance, Web Program or Series (for Connie Wang)Best Supporting Performance, Web Program or Series (for Jessica Greco)Apulia Web FestBest Actress (for Connie Wang)DC Web FestBronze AwardSeoul WebfestBest Web SeriesCanadian Cinema Editors AwardsBest Editing in Webseries (for Ben Lawrence for Episode 3)
References
External links
Tokens official site